India Laments Loss of Skilled Pilots and Engineers to Foreign Airlines
India has presented a significant working paper to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) addressing growing concerns about the recruitment of veteran pilots and engineers by foreign airlines.
As the ICAO gears up for its 42nd Assembly Session in Montreal, Canada, India’s paper emphasizes that practices by certain “contracting states” are negatively affecting the country’s ability to cultivate its own international civil aviation sector.
The document, dated August 1, 2025, points out that airlines from other contracting states are increasingly hiring experienced personnel such as pilots, engineers, technicians, and cabin crew from Indian airlines. This trend is hindering India’s civil aviation industry from realizing its projected and structured growth.
Moreover, India argues that this situation is restricting its national airlines from expanding their fleets. It notes that foreign competitors frequently recruit skilled staff without prior notification to Indian carriers.
This recruitment practice leads to a challenging cycle, forcing Indian airlines to continuously train new personnel while diverting resources from expansion and operational enhancements. The working paper highlights that this problem is particularly acute for specialized roles like type-rated pilots, where replacement training can take significant time—often months or even years.
Additionally, the document states that this situation creates an unfair competitive edge for foreign carriers, as Indian airlines end up subsidizing the training expenses of these overseas companies while facing their own operational disruptions.
To alleviate these challenges, India is advocating for a universal Code of Conduct concerning staff movement among ICAO member states. This initiative aims to cushion the impact on Indian airlines.
The working paper also notes that India’s domestic aviation market has seen remarkable growth, with passenger numbers skyrocketing from 61 million to 166 million over the past decade. Major Indian carriers like IndiGo are making substantial aircraft orders with Boeing and Airbus, expanding their network and routes aggressively.
The ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that facilitates cooperation among 193 countries for mutual benefits in aviation.
The 42nd Assembly Session is set to take place in Montreal from September 23 to October 3, 2025.
What do you think about the implications of such recruitment practices on India’s aviation industry?
